What You Need to Know From Week 16

Photo: Jim Brown, USA Today Sports

SF @ TEN

• Jeff Wilson scored and did enough to be a solid RB2 and trust against the Texans if Elijah Mitchell can’t go.
• Brandon Aiyuk scored late, but is clearly a supporting cast player in this offense when all hands are on deck with a low ceiling and floor.
• The three-way committee at running back makes D’Onta Foreman a what the heck flex who can be marginalized if the Titans fall behind.
• It took a half but A.J. Brown regained game-winning (fantasy and real NFL) form in his first game back from a chest injury.

CLE @ GB

• Baker Mayfield wasn’t always smart with the ball, but the last interception came on a missed pass interference call or the Browns might have won this one. Still, there’s no option in this passing game worth starting against the Steelers.
• The Packers pass offense is only going to support one consistent play - Davante Adams.
• Aaron Jones maintained his hold on the majority of the backfield touches over A.J. Dillon. Only Jones is worth a start against Minnesota.

IND @ ARI

• Carson Wentz was uneven, but did enough to get the win and merit emergency quarterback consideration in Week 17 against Las Vegas, if he can get off of the covid list. He also made Michael Pittman a good play in Week 16 and a safer play in Week 17, if he starts instead of Sam Ehlinger (or Philip Rivers).
• Kyler Murray misses DeAndre Hopkins, but did enough as a runner to be a solid start. He’ll be challenged against the Cowboys, but should be in Week 17 lineups.
• James Conner couldn’t play through his heel injury. Chase Edmonds was the workhorse and leading receiver in the limited pass offense. He’ll be a flex if Conner can go vs. Dallas, and a PPR RB1 if Conner can’t.
• A.J. Green is fading, leaving only Zach Ertz and Christian Kirk as worthy plays in the passing game.

DET @ ATL

• Tim Boyle is good enough to keep Amon-Ra St. Brown among the fantasy starters. Jared Goff will be ready for Week 17, but this is a great sign for St. Brown’s long term prospects.
• Jamaal Williams will run slightly ahead of Craig Reynolds, but it is close to an even split in terms of snaps with D’Andre Swift still out, so there’s no Lions back worth playing in Week 17.
• Cordarrelle Patterson’s fantasy stock is running out of gas and only a short score saved him from being a fantasy liability.
• Russell Gage had a costly fumble and wasn’t heavily involved since the Falcons never trailed big. He’s not a sure play at Buffalo in Week 17.
• Kyle Pitts was looking more like the player the team hoped he would become when they took him #4 overall. He’s warming up heading into Week 17.

LAR @ MIN

• The Rams won in spite of Matthew Stafford three terrible interceptions, but he’s still a good start against the Ravens this week.
• Darrell Henderson left with a knee injury and making Sony Michel the clear lead back again, and he responded. Michel looks like a solid RB2 for Week 17.
• Odell Beckham scored and he’s the better ancillary receiver play at Baltimore, but both could be good plays given the state of the Ravens secondary.
• Adam Thielen left with an aggravation of his ankle injury. K.J. Osborn had a bad drop that turned into an end zone interception, but also scored and is probably worth Week 17 consideration at Green Bay, as long as Thielen is out. Mike Zimmer has said he has optimism about Thielen’s status, but we shouldn’t believe him.

JAX @ NYJ

• James Robinson went out with an achilles injury, endangering his Week 1 status next season. Dare Ogunbowale will be the desperation play for Week 17 at New England.
• Zach Wilson didn’t light it up through the air, but did have some impressive runs, including a 52-yard touchdown run. He’s just a desperation play against the Bucs.
• Michael Carter had a very good game running the ball and is on track to be the lead back going into the offseason.

NYG @ PHI

• Saquon Barkley was outplayed by Devontae Booker again. It’s not going to happen for him in 2021.
• Miles Sanders left with a hand injury and Jordan Howard a stinger. Howard has a chance to play, but for now Boston Scott is in line to start.
• Devonta Smith was a technician and it was his turn to have the good fantasy game while Dallas Goedert was the dud. At least one should be a good play against Washington.
• Jalen Hurts was uneven as a passer and didn’t score, but his floor game is still worth enduring. Keep him in lineups in Week 17.

BUF @ NE

• Josh Allen was masterful as the Bills went for it on fourth down with impunity. He’s peaking at the right time even though Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis will be out again in Week 17.
• Isaiah McKenzie was again clutch and productive in place of Beasley and should be in lineups against the Falcons.
• Devin Singletary is the clear lead back no matter who else is active and should be in lineups as an RB2 in Week 17.
• Damien Harris showed no lingering effects from his hamstring injury and was the offense against the Bills. No Patriots passing game target was worth playing.

BAL @ CIN

• Josh Johnson was acceptable as a Week 16 play as it looks like any Ravens quarterback is going to have fantasy value. Tyler Huntley could start in Week 17 if he can get off of the covid list.
• Mark Andrews is quarterback proof for fantasy, but he’s the only Ravens passcatcher that we can trust with a backup quarterback in.
• The Ravens secondary was historically bad and Joe Burrow had a little extra for them after the defensive coordinator Wink Martindale seemed to take them lightly. He’ll have a stiffer test against the Chiefs, but should be in fantasy lineups.
• All of the Bengals wideouts are at the top of their games, along with Joe Mixon, and they all should be in lineups despite the tough matchup.

LAC @ HOU

• Justin Herbert was miserable and only a garbage time score saved his day. He faces a Broncos defense that confounded him earlier this year and might not be a sure start in Week 17.
• Justin Jackson was magnificent in place of Austin Ekeler save for one fumble. Even if Ekeler is back for Week 17, Jackson deserves flex consideration.
• Keenan Allen, Jared Cook, and Josh Palmer suffered with Herbert, but Mike Williams is out for Week 17, so they’ll at least have a larger share of the targets.
• Davis Mills continues to impress, even without Brandin Cooks. The Texans have found their 2022 Week 1 starter.
• Rex Burkhead was an unlikely Week 16 fantasy MVP, but the bottom line here is probably to play your Broncos backs against this Chargers run defense in Week 17.

TB @ CAR

• Antonio Brown got half of the targets and is a must start in Week 17.
• Rob Gronkowski was quiet, but with Mike Evans likely out in Week 17, he’s still a start.
• Ronald Jones II was workmanlike and scored to make fantasy teams pleased, but Ke’Shawn Vaughn busted the long touchdown run in a hopeful development for his future.
• The Panthers tried a quarterback platoon of Cam Newton and Sam Darnold. It didn’t work. Now the team has a covid outbreak heading into Week 17.

CHI @ SEA

• Nick Foles was steady and probably earned a Week 17 start against the Giants, but the anemic passing game outlook is unchanged.
• Russell Wilson was mediocre yet again, undermining confidence in him and passing game pieces heading into what was an attractive Week 17 home matchup with the Lions.
• Rashaad Penny continued his dominance if he can just 12 carries. He broke tackles and ran with heretofore unforeseen toughness, increasing his value going into free agency next year.
• Gerald Everett scored and he has shrugged off earlier struggles to be a possible streamer for Week 17.

DEN @ LV

• Drew Lock was, well, Drew Lock, keeping us in the no Broncos passcatcher is worth playing zone and taking the running backs with him. At least the backs get to run at the Chargers defense next week.
• Josh Jacobs did most of the heavy lifting for the Raiders offense, but Peyton Barber vultured a touchdown. Jacobs remains in safe RB2 territory for the matchup against the Colts.

PIT @ KC

• Ben Roethlisberger looked like he needed to be ushered out the side door to protect him. The Steelers offense is powerless to move the ball against a good defense. They get the Browns next week.
• Patrick Mahomes II didn’t miss a beat without Travis Kelce. Byron Pringle stepped up with two as the Chiefs barely needed Tyreek Hill, who did come off of the covid list in time to play.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire left with a collarbone injury but could play in Week 17. If he doesn’t, Darrel Williams will be a fantasy RB2 and Derrick Gore a what the heck flex.

WAS @ DAL

• Taylor Heinicke was under duress and playing poorly, so Ron Rivera pulled him for his own good. It sounds like both Heinicke and Kyle Allen will play in Week 17. Terry McLaurin is a dicey play either way.
• Antonio Gibson at least scored, but the Washington offense never really got out of the driveway in the drubbing.
• Dak Prescott found his game at home and there was enough to go around for Amari Cooper, Dalton Schultz, and Ezekiel Elliott to all be good plays. The Cardinals are up next week in Arlington and we should expect another good game from this offense.

MIA @ NO

• The Saints defense was spirited and nothing worked except passes to Jaylen Waddle, who is an auto start against the Titans in Week 17. Mike Gesicki isn’t an auto play in Week 17.
• Phillip Lindsay’s return created a three-headed backfield for the Dolphins, and no usable back for Week 17.
• The Saints were forced to start Ian Book and the offense predictably suffered. It’s difficult to bench Alvin Kamara against Carolina, but he is only in on 60% of the snaps with Mark Ingram back. We’ll see if Trevor Siemian or Taysom Hill is cleared to play in Week 17.